Attachment for automobile running-boards



T. L, FAY. v nucumsn'r FOR AUTOMOBILE nurmmc mans.

APPLICATION FILED SEPI- I3, 1920- Patented Oct- 25, 1921.

ammm Thomas l'hfay a i m of the invention, l

UNITED STATES.

, THOMAS L. ramor snnrrnn, WASHINGTON.

ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMOBILE RUN N IN G-BOARDS.

Specification of Letters Patent. .Paten'ted Oct, 25 1921 Application filed September 13, 1920. Serial No. 409,773.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. FAY,a citizen of the United States,v and resident of Seattle, liing county, Washington, have invented certain new" and useful Improvements in Attachments for Automobile Run: ning-Boards, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in luggage carrying attachments for automobiles, and more particularly to devices of that character whereby boxes, packages, suitcases and the like may be held on the run ning board of an automobile for transportation. 7

The principal object of the present. invention is to provide a luggage supporting device that can be made at a relatively small expense, which will be serviceable and eflicient in use and which may be easily and quickly placed in, or removedfrom, carrying position on any of the ordinary types of automobiles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which comprises" a plurality of baggage supporting chains or cables, which may be utilized in a number of ways when occasion arises: For instance, they maybe coupled together and used as a towing cable, or may be wound about a vehicle wheel to function as an anti skid device, and also may be used as locking means forsecuring a Wheel to prevent use of the vehicle by unauthorlzed persons.

Qther objects of the invention reside in th novel construction of themembers whereby the luggage supporting chains are mounted on the vehicle, in the housing for the chains when not in use, and in the manner whereby the chains may be placed within and removed from their housing.

In accomplishin these and other" objects have provided the im- 1 proved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is aside view of an automobile equipped with a baggage carrying device constructed andmounted according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, detail view, partly in section illustrating the chain carrying housing and chain rod extended thereinto.

Fig. 3 illustrates the use of a chain as an anti-skid device.

Fig. 4 shows the chain used as a locking device.

Referring more in detail to the several views of the drawings, wherein like" refer-' ence numerals. designate like parts, 1 designates an automobile, which may be of any of the ordinary types, which is equipped with the usual running board 2, and mud guards 3 and 4 which extend over the front and rear vehicle wheels 5 and 6 respectively.

Fixed to the mud guards 3 and 4 adjacent to and parallel with their outer; edges are chain securing bars 7 and 8 the bar 8 has a foot 9 at its upper end secured by bolts 10 to the mud guard, and atits lower end has. a foot 9 which is likewise secured to the running board 2. The bar 7 is fixed at its upper end to the forward-mud guard by a bolt 11, but at its lower endextends through an opening 12 in the running board and is fixed: to the floor, or bottom 13, ofya box 14 secured beneath the running board and opening to serve as a housing wherein the chains may be carried when not in use. a a p The bars 7, and 8 are] so held by their mounting feet that theywill be held spaced a distance that is approximately one-half inch from the mud guardsand at intervals are bent outwardly to form loops, or seek ets15. '1 f Slidable along the rod 7, are the end links or clevises 16 of baggage supporting chains 17. These clevisesj are adapted. when the chainsaw in-use to be seated in the rod sockets 15 as shownin'Fig. 1, to hold the chains at certain spaced intervals, and the opposite ends of the chains are adapted to be ends opposite the ends equipped with the clevises, the chains have 'ancho'rhooks 19 which may be hookedafter the chains have been passed around the rod 8'into any link of the chain that will'provide proper adjustment and hold the chains taut.

When the chains are being used to carry baggage on the running board of the vehiole, they are adjusted to theprouer positions along the rod and held at spaced distances by seating the clevises. 16 in the sock ets 15. Their opposite ends are then ex tended through the sockets of the rod 8 and drawn taut and secured by their end hooks.

When not in use, the chains are released moved down the rod and into the box 14.

A cover 24 is providedifor the box which is normally closed. j

It is apparent that cables could be used 7 instead ofchains, but I have shown chains,

as they afford easier application of the hooks ends thereto and permit'readier adjustment.

] These chains have various uses when not being used as baggage supports. For in-- stance, theycan be removed from the rod 8 by removing the clevis bolts and can be connectedby their end hooks to form a towing'chain.

1 Another use is illustrated in Fig. 3 which shows a chain used as an anti-sl zid-dcvice. In this instance the chain is wound about the wheel and its ends secured together by means of its end book which is extended through the opposite end ring. a j r Fig. 4: shows the use of a chain as a locking devic for-the vehicle. Here the chain has been wound about a wheel and axle of the vehicle andgits ends secured together byuse of a padlock 25.

7 It is apparentthat such a' construction could be easily placed on any vehicle. It wouldbe' very serviceable, and the chains utilized in a number of ways as has been illustrated." l V It'is also apparent that changes in construction could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, such as placing hooks at either end of the chains,- or securing the chains to the bar-s 7 or '8, and I therefore do not wish to be limited only to the constructions shown;

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new'therein and desireto' secure by Letters Patent is: 1 V

1; In a baggagecarrying attachment for automobiles, the combination with a running board and forward and rearward mud guards continuing therefrom, of bars secured to extend along the outer edges of saidmud guards having sockets at spaced intervals therein, a plurality of chains having ends equipped with rings thatare slidable along one or" said bars and adapted to be seated in said sockets, and having opposite end portions extendible about theother bar and adapted I to'be seated in its a sockets to hold the" chains at adjustably spaceddistances, and hooks at the free ends engage ablewith links of thechains' to sec'ure'these ends about the latter bar for the purpose set forth.

2. A baggage carrying attachment for automobiles, comprising in combination with a running board and wheel mud guairdscontinuing from its opposite end, a bar secured to extend along the outer edge of each of said mud guards and'at a slight distance therefrom, said bars-havingwsockets formed therein at corresponding intervals, a housing secured to the running board which receives thelower end of one of said bars, a plus rality of baggage securing chains having ends equipped with rings which are slidable along the bar that extends into said housing and adapted to be seated in said bar sockets to hold these ends of the chains at spaced distances apart, and having oppo-' site free ends extendible about and adapted to be seated in the sockets of the opposite bar and equipped with hooks whereby said free ends may be secured about'the'latter bar; all of said chains being adapted when released at their hook ends to be slid down ward on the first bar and into said housing at the lower end' thereof; a a

3. A baggage carrying attachment for automobiles, comprising in combination with a running board having an -opening therein at one end and mud guards continuing from the opposite ends'oi said board, of a 7 chain housing secured tosaid'runningiboard' beneath said opening, a bar secured to ex.-; tend'along the outer edge of each of said mud guards, and spacedislightly therefrom;

said bars having sockets formed therein at correspondlng intervals and the lower end of one of said bars being extended through said board opening and secured withinsaid v housing, a plurality of baggage securing chains having'ends equipped with rings 7 which are slidable along the bar that extends into said housing and adapted t be seated in said barsockets to hold these ends ofthe chains at spaced distances apart, and havingopposite'free ends extendible about and adapted" to be seatedin the sockets of the oppositebar and equipped with hooks whereby said free ends may be secured'about the latter'bar; all of said chains being adapted when released at their hook ends to be slid downward on the first bar and into said housing at the lower endthereof.

Signed at Seattle, Washingtom'this 31st.

day of August, 1920; 3

' THOMAS L. FAX. 

